If you are looking to travel from Mason City to Marshalltown, this 91.6-mile journey across Iowa is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route works perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $14 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent feel as you transition between these Iowa hubs. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct, local connection over major interstate travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sanford Avenue
19.8 mi
27m
Partridge Avenue
14.6 mi
19m
4th Street Southeast
12.8 mi
17m
County Highway C13
11.4 mi
16m
County Highway S56
9.6 mi
16m
Hardin Street
8 mi
12m
240th Street
5 mi
7m
State Highway 175
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Sanford Avenue
— 19.8 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Marshalltown, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·6 sec·2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·19 sec·North Federal Avenue
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.2 mi·21 sec·1st Street Northeast
4
Turn right onto North Pennsylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pennsylvania Avenue
5
Turn right onto 8th Street Southeast
0.1 mi·26 sec·8th Street Southeast
6
Turn left onto US 18 Business; US 65
1.7 mi·3 min·South Federal Avenue
7
Continue on US 18 Business; US 65
15 mi·19 min·Partridge Avenue
8
Continue on US 65
11 mi·16 min·County Highway C13
9
Continue on US 65
13 mi·17 min·4th Street Southeast
10
Turn left onto IA 57
8.0 mi·12 min·Hardin Street
11
Turn sharp right onto Butler Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Butler Street
12
Continue on County Highway S56
9.6 mi·16 min·County Highway S56
13
Continue on North 1st Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·North 1st Street
14
Continue on County Road S56
3.5 mi·6 min·County Road S56
15
Turn left onto IA 175
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 175
16
Continue on IA 175
5.0 mi·7 min·240th Street
17
Turn right onto IA 14
20 mi·27 min·Sanford Avenue
18
Continue on IA 14
1.2 mi·1 min·North 3rd Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule without needing to worry about rigid timing. You won't have to plan for any mandatory stops, as you can complete the entire 91.6-mile distance in one go. Budgeting around $14 for fuel is a safe bet, so be sure to check your tank before heading out to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, keep your navigation tools handy to help you transition smoothly between North Federal Avenue and the other local roads. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on the road ahead while enjoying the ease of a drive that keeps you off the busy highways.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mason City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mason City, IA
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Mason City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sanford Avenue for about 19.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Federal Avenue
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street Northeast
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto North Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|8th Street Southeast
Turn right onto 8th Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
5
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|Butler Street
Turn sharp right onto Butler Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.74 one way
$29.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.19
$32.37
premium
$4.89
$18.15
$36.29
diesel
$5.61
$20.82
$41.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mason City, IA
Night
in Mason City on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Night
in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via North Federal Avenue, 1st Street Northeast, and North Pennsylvania Avenue throughout the 91.6-mile trek. Because there are no long highway stretches, your attention will be consistently required on the local road network. The lack of major highway segments means the pace remains steady and grounded in the local infrastructure. You should prepare for a drive defined by turns rather than long, straight-line cruising, which gives the journey a distinct, hands-on feel behind the wheel.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on Sanford Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mason City, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 4% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Mason City is a city in Iowa, renowned for its collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie School architects, considered the most significant concentration of such architecture outside of Oak Park, Illinois.
The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on Sanford Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marshalltown, IA before heading back.
